by Alan Quick

DURING a Summer of Olympic medal success it seems that Sandford Parish Council has also struck Gold with the award of a £75,000 grant by Sport England towards a new Sports Pavilion for the Sandford community.

Sport England, funded by the National Lottery, has also assisted the current British Olympians and medal winners.

In one of Sport England’s recent communications to Sandford Parish Council, it said: “As the British Olympic team reach heady heights on the medal table and smash records left, right and centre, it’s easy to forget the hard work and financial support it’s taken to get them on the Olympic podium.

“Dozens of Rio medallists have been supported by our talent schemes on their sporting journeys.

“For many, an early taste of competing in a ‘games’ environment is at the school games, which we support.”

Charles Johnston, Sport England’s Property Director said: “We are pleased to offer £75,000 of National Lottery funding to help the Community in Sandford lead more active lives.

“With proposals in place to build a new pavilion, this facility will provide a home for Sandford AFC and be a huge benefit to the wider community.

“I wish Sandford Parish Council every success in delivering this project and look forward to the pavilion’s opening in the Spring of 2017.”

Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, said: “I am delighted that Sandford Parish Council has been awarded a grant of £75,000 by Sport England to create the Sandford Community Sport Pavilion.

“This investment will bring undoubted benefits to the local community and I would like to congratulate the parish council for securing this vital funding.

“I very much look forward to the pavilion opening next year.”

Additional funding will come from Sandford Parish Council and the community.

Mrs Shuana Miles, chairman of Sandford Parish Council said the new Sandford facility will mean that parish organisations including Sandford AFC, Sandford School and Sandford Tennis Club will be able to make use of the Sandford Community Sports Pavilion when using the field.

The parish clerk, Malcolm Vallance, added that the council is currently going out to tender for the build and it is hoped that work on the new Sandford Community Sports Pavilion will commence later this year.

For safety reasons, he added that the play area at the Playing Field will need to be closed during the time the building works are underway.

The parish council says it hopes that the new play area at Creedy View will be open in time to cover the closure of the main play area.